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This one is a bit of a team-effort... Wifey set it up and took the shot, and I did the post.

Just testing out our new backdrop which is nice and neutral (at least until I get a set of gels I ordered from the US!!). Key light is an SB-800 with white shoot-through brolly on the left, and there is a background light behind Phoebe (I think snooted, but this was done while I was at work so I am not sure)

I really liked the composition and expression, and thought it might go pretty well with a splash of desaturation, giving it a bit of that "porcelain doll" look. I also upped the contrast via curves.

I'm pleased with how the background light worked here - as Phoebe has quite dark hair, getting separation from the background can be a bit of a challenge.

Any feedback? I think maybe next time we'll try just a touch of fill so that the shadows aren't as deep.

Personally I dont' think you need fill, I just think your key light was too far off axis. In shots like this i find that i like the gradations in the light falloff to happen after the light hits the eye opposite the key light so the face is "adequately" illuminated.

That's some wicked hair.

I think a reflector or a dialled-down flash as fill would improve the shot.

This lighting would be terrific for a character portrait of an adult, but for a cute and bright little button like Phoebe, I think a reduction in the shadows on the RHS of the pic (particularly the left side of her face) would be beneficial.

But, that is a very small gripe for an otherwise delightful image of a child.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

That's an interesting suggestion, hamster. I might well give that a go next time!